New Logistics chief assumes post

By Zaida delos Reyes-Palanca
journal Online, Sunday, July 17, 2011

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has a new deputy chief of staff for Logistics, J4 in the person of former commander of the Naval Forces West (Nav-forwest) in Palawan Commodore Edgardo D. Tamayo.

In a simple turn-over ceremony held in the AFP Conference Room, Commo. Tamayo succeded Commo. Teddy O. Pan who will retire from his military service today, July 17.

In his speech, Tamayo asked the cooperation of the Logistics family and the support of the command in performing his responsibilities in the office.

“Sama-sama tayo at magtulungan para sa tamang proseso at pagtungo sa matuwid na daan,” Tamayo said.

Tamayo has been serving the Armed Forces for 31 years now since he joined the Philippine Navy after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1980.

Before serving as the commander of the Navforwest, Tamayo served as the commander of Service Force Philippine Fleet (PHLFLT), the deputy commander of the Naval Forces Central located in Visayas, commander, Naval Task Force 71 in Eastern Mindanao, deputy commander of the Patrol Force PHLFLT, chief of staff of the Naval Sea Systems Command and commanding officer of five Commissioned Vessels the last of which was BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-37).

Tamayo signified the importance of working together as one unit which shall share the same goal of fulfilling the mandate to protect the best interest of the Filipino nation while upholding a transparent and credible service in the military.

“Let me now profess on this spot, with all the officers enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the AFP and the logistic family, that we should all together pledge to dedicate and rededicate our unwavering commitment to work towards common purpose in order to accomplish our tasks,” Tamayo said.

“Individually, we cannot do much but collectively, we can do a lot and produce better results,” he added.

www.journal.com.ph

AFP assigns new deputy for logistics

ABS-CBN News, Saturday, July 16, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has already replaced the deputy chief of staff for logistics who was investigated over the questionable procurement of petroleum and lubricants.

AFP public affairs officer-in-charge Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto said Commodore Edgardo Tamayo was named new deputy chief of staff for logistics 3 months after the relief of his predecessor, Commodore Teddy Pan.

Pan was probed over the alleged irregular procurement of P400 million worth of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL).

He was also questioned for the POL’s alleged conversion and the unauthorized distribution of fleet cards.

AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez later disclosed that Pan was already cleared of all the allegations.

Pan's successor Tamayo, meanwhile, sought the cooperation of the AFP’s logistics division.

"I seek the cooperation of the logistics family and the support of the Command in the gigantic tasks and enormous responsibilities of the office. Sama-sama tayo at magtulungan para sa tamang proseso at pagtungo sa matuwid na daan," he said.

Tamayo was the commander of the Navy's Philippine Fleet Service Force. He was also the deputy commander of the Naval Forces Central; Naval Task Force 71; and Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet.

He also served as chief of staff of the Naval Sea Systems Command aside from being the commanding officer of 5 ships.

www.abs-cbnnews.com

PH Navy pilots board US warship for training

By Abigail Kwok
Interaksyon, Wednesday, June 29, 2011

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- Philippine Navy pilots boarded early on Wednesday morning a US warship docked off Sulu Sea, for training by American pilots in a joint exercise that entered its second day and is seen as heightening tensions arising from China’s warning to the United States to refrain from taking sides among claimants in the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

US pilots on the USS Howard were very pleased with how Philippine soldiers performed during the exercise.

"They're very eager, very knowledgeable," said Lt. Commander Ron Martin, one of the US pilots.

The USS Howard is one of the three United States Navy warships docked here for the 11-day joint naval exercises with the Philippine Navy off Sulu Sea. Packed with anti-sub and anti-air capabilities, the USS Howard is definitely a force to reckon with, a stark contrast to the ageing naval warships of the Philippines.

Several journalists got a chance to tour the USS Howard, named after Medal of Honor awardee Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie Howard.

The US destroyer is the 33rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy. It was commissioned only last October 20, 2001 and is docked in San Diego, California. The ship has over 200 crew members, including a few of Filipino descent.

The SH-60 Seahawk

On the flight deck of the US destroyer are two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters with anti-submarine capabilities. These can detect foreign submarines in the ocean through sound waves and acoustics and, once detected, they relay this information to the headquarters.

"Each submarine of each country has its own unique sound wave and we are able to detect that," Martin said.

The helicopters only have the ability to detect and not to destroy. Towards the tail of the helicopter, a magnetic detecting system is attached and can be unlatched up to 180 feet, which is mainly used to detect submarines. While these helicopters do not have an air defense capability, they have a built-in infrared system, self-defense maneuver system, and flair.

The USS Howard also has an Mk-45 5"/62 caliber lightweight gun, two Mk-41 VLS for Standard missiles and Tomahawk missiles, two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, two Mk-32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk-50 and Mk-46 torpedoes.

Philippines needs bulking up

The USS Howard is just one of the many US warships, something which the Philippines' own military sorely lacks. But while equipment and armament are definitely major issues to be addressed, the Philippine Navy believes it can make up for this through training and information sharing.

"It is our humble submission that ours is a military establishment that does not measure its vitality and its strength in terms of arms alone. Whatever deficiencies we may have in our equipment and supplies, it is our sheer resolve that we shall make up for such deficiencies through training," said Commodore Edgardo Tamayo of the Naval Forces West during the opening ceremonies of the joint naval exercises, called CARAT.

interaksyon.net

US, Philippines to hold joint navy exercise

By Bong Garcia

Sun Star, Sunday, June 26, 2011

ALL is set for the holding of the 11-day joint Philippines and United States Navy exercise, a top Philippine Navy official announced Sunday.

The bilateral exercise dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) 2011 will be held from June 28 until July 8, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and along the Sulu Sea.

The participants are the Naval Forces West (NFW) of the Philippine Navy (PN) based in Palawan and the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy (USN).

NFW chief Commodore Edgardo Tamayo said the 11-day joint naval exercise is part of the Philippines-US Defense Treaty of 1951 that is being executed every year.

Tamayo said the main purpose of the activity is to strengthen the ties between the two Navies through exchanges of knowledge and skills in the field of navigation and naval operations, particularly maritime defense, port security, resource protection and disaster response.

Highlights of Carat 2011 are the personnel exchange between the two ships for the effective commutation of information between the PN and USN; friendship games; and PN-hosted and USN-hosted reception dinners to further strengthen the relationship between the two parties involved.

Civil Military Operations are also scheduled to reach out to the residents of Palawan, particularly Medical and Dental Civic Action at Barangay Tagabinet; Engineering Civic Action at Barangay Mangingisda Elementary School; and Community Relation Activity at Tagburos Elementary School and Gregorio Oquendo Memorial Elementary School.

Tamayo said that a community service and public affairs activity is also set in the form of free music lessons at Palawan State University Laboratory High School and Palawan National School.

To cap off the activity, Tamayo said the Philippine Marine Corps and the US 7th Fleet Band will hold a free band concert at the Puerto Princesa City Amphitheatre and at the NCCC Mall.

Tamayo said that members of the US Navy are also scheduled to visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the city’s biggest and most popular tourist destination.

“This is an opportunity for the Naval Forces West, the city of Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan to showcase its beauty and its natural resources,” Tamayo said.

“The exercise will certainly prove its worth as all aspects of naval operations are being integrated as the two navies further their interoperability,” he added.

Tamayo added that he is confident that Carat Exercise 2011 in Puerto Princesa City will be a success.

sunstar.com.ph

Navy officer calls for tougher laws vs foreign poachers

By Ces Oreña Drilon

ABS-CBN news, Thursday, June 16, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - Tougher laws are needed to punish foreign fishermen who poach in Philippine waters, a Navy officer said on Thursday.

Commodore Edgardo Tamayo, head of the Naval Forces West, issued the statement after Vietnamese fishermen on board 7 boats were arrested just 2 nautical miles off Baragay Tamburok in Balabac, Palawan province last May 31.

Tamayo said under Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code, foreign poachers can only be fined and deported.

He quoted the code's Section 87, which states: "The entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters.Violation of the above shall be punished by a fine of One Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$100,000.00), in addition to the confiscation of its catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel: Provided, that the Department is empowered to impose an administrative fine of not less than Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$50,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$200,000.00) or its equivalent in the Philippine Currency."

He added that the Navy also lacks enough ships and equipment to protect the country's vast territorial waters.

This could be alleviated by more than P11 billion allotted to modernize the Armed Forces within the next 3 years.

Around P8 billion in the fund will come from the Department of Energy that sourced the money from the government's earnings on oil extraction in the West Philippine Sea.

abs-cbnnews.com

Philippines pulls Spratlys ‘foreign’ posts

By Donna Pazzibugan

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Thursday, June 16,2011

The Philippine Navy removed “foreign” markers installed on three reefs and banks in disputed isles off Palawan in May and foiled an attempt last week to reestablish them, officials said on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay on Wednesday told Agence France-Presse that the removal of the wooden posts last month took place just before Manila protested the alleged incursions by the Chinese Navy into Philippine waters.

“These were foreign markers because they were not installed by our military or our government. So we dismantled the markers because they are part of Philippine territory,” the Philippine Navy spokesperson told the French news agency.

Manila has accused Beijing of putting posts and a buoy in Philippine waters, but Tonsay said the Navy had not been able to determine who placed the wooden posts.

“They did not have a ‘Made in China’ label or anything,” Tonsay said, adding the posts had only numbers on them.

The markers were on Iroquois (Amy Douglas) Bank, Recto (Reed) Bank and Boxall Reef, all in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), he said.

“On June 5 again it was reported that our local fishermen found another marker,” said Commodore Edgardo Tamayo, commander of the Naval Forces West based in Palawan.

“I directed our patrol boat to check on the veracity of the report, and that was in Boxall Reef, only about 20 nautical miles [37 kilometers] away from Ayungin Shoal,” Tamayo said in a phone interview.

He said his forces had dismantled the marker on the reef, a Philippine Navy-occupied islet within the chain of islands that the Philippines collectively calls the Kalayaan Island Group. It is located 194 km (105 nautical miles) from mainland Palawan.

Defensive position

In Puerto Princesa City, Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban told the Palawan provincial board that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would take a defensive position if challenged by China.

“We will fire only when fired upon. That is our rule of engagement,” the Western Command chief said on Tuesday, reacting to questions from board members about China’s reported plan to explore for oil in the region.

“In terms of military capability, we are very limited that is why we employ diplomatic means to resolve issues with China,” Sabban later told reporters.

The discovery of the marker in Boxall Reef came in the heels of the discovery on May 24 of steel posts, a buoy and other building materials laid out by Chinese vessels in Iroquois Reef, which the Philippines claims to be within its 370-km (200-nautical-mile) exclusive economic zone.

Manila filed a diplomatic protest over the Iroquois Reef incident, saying China “aggressively violated” the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The 2002 nonbinding agreement signed by member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and China urges the claimant states to exercise restraint and avoid activities that might escalate tension, such as construction of military facilities and holding war games.

The Spratlys is claimed in whole or in part by six nations—the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

No markings

Tamayo said Filipino fishermen saw activity in Boxall Reef during the first few days of June and then reported to the Navy on June 5 that they had spotted a marker.

“Our floating assets saw and confirmed the marker, the same marker that was found at Amy Douglas. That marker has the same description,” he said.

He said the marker was about 10 feet long and about four inches wide and likened it to a flat bar.

“This was confirmed to be found at the Boxall Reef,” he said, adding the marker was dismantled on June 6.

“We pulled out the marker to serve as evidence to prove that we saw that in that place,” Tamayo added.

“We did not see any markings that will tell us (it came from the) Chinese, (nor) any Chinese characters. So I surmise it is suspected from foreign origin. According to our informants, they suspect it to be Chinese because at that time they witnessed while it is being laid out,” he said.

Code of conduct

Tamayo said the Philippine Navy subscribed to the intention of the Declaration of Conduct to avoid any conflict.

“Personally I should say that following the intention of the conduct, supposedly we should be on status quo, meaning to say that we avoid putting up any particular structures like markers that would raise tension or raise conflict. That was the intention of the code of conduct.

A spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the naval action, but Malacañang was heaving a sigh of relief following a statement by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei that Beijing did not intend to use force in the Spratlys controversy.

“It is something that we will certainly welcome so at least we have in the region an assurance that no use of force will be necessary to resolve the situation here,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters.

newsinfo.inquirer.net

Philippine Navy dismantles Chinese marker in Spratly reef

By Windsor Genova

All Headline News, June 15, 2011

The Philippine Navy said Tuesday it has dismantled a suspected Chinese marker found by local fishermen at a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The marker taken down at the Boxall Reef was a flat bar measuring 10 feet long and 4 inches wide, according to Naval Forces West commander Commodore Edgardo Tamayo.

The reef is 105 nautical miles from Palawan Island and falls within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. It is 20 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal, which is occupied by the Philippine Navy.

Tamayo said the marker was the same steel post found and dismantled earlier by the navy at Amy Douglas Bank.

On May 24, steel posts, a buoy and other building materials were laid out by Chinese vessels in the said reef. Manila subsequently filed a diplomatic protest with China, claiming the foreign activities violated the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The declaration, to which China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are parties, urges claimants to the islands to refrain from constructing military facilities and conducting war games in the disputed archipelago to avoid tension. The declaration, however, is non-binding.

allheadlines.com